Editorial
Front Page - Friday, July 23, 2010
Commentary: Common sense, planning required for fun in NYC
Erica Tuggle
The numerous attractions and historical landmarks of New York City make it an ideal place to take a summer vacation. Having a safe and enjoyable time in the Big Apple is simply done by employing common sense and pacing yourself as you make your way around the island.
- Erica Tuggle
Summer vacations may conjure images of sunny beaches, glorious mountainsides or sparkling lakes. But for those looking for something different, a trip to New York City provides a fast paced, attraction packed and dining rich opportunity for Chattanoogans who, with a little determination, can brave the city that never sleeps and have a safe and fun-filled trip.
A lot of the negative perceptions about the Big Apple have been formed by Hollywood images, and although the city does possess its own grittiness it offers an abundance of good, for its visitors who need only employ common sense to enjoy their stay.
Have a plan
Just like for any vacation, travelers need to do their homework so that when they arrive, they don’t look out of place. Upon or before arriving at NYC, purchase a map that details all the streets around the location you are staying. On our last trip, we bought a map from the hotel gift shop that detailed not only the Manhattan area, but the subway lines and the rest of the island as well. Before you arrive, visit the Web pages of the attractions you wish to see to pre-purchase tickets, jot down their address and find eateries around the location.
Love the subway
New York City on a budget isn’t too difficult, but the first thing to cut out is taxi fare. Almost everywhere you will need to go in the city is accessible with a brief walk or by subway. This means flip-flops should be left at home and exchanged for comfortable walking shoes. Also, carry around a bottle of water and sunscreen during your visit. They will be most valuable on days when temperatures climb into the triple digits. Furthermore, do not be afraid of taking the subway. It is easy to navigate with the maps on display, all around the stations, and even if you get on the wrong train, it is easily righted. The air-conditioned cars of the subway also save you time and effort.
Dish it out
The best option for inexpensive and delicious food in NYC is from the street vendors. Offering gyros, meat kabobs, hot dogs and a variety of other foods, it is the best option to try new food quickly. Visiting a restaurant during your visit is nice to sit down and relax, but will soon run up a bill. If you want to indulge in seated dining, visit the local independent restaurants and not the chain locations.
Independent dining options offer a higher quality and taste value than chains that sometimes scrimp and exploit for cost effectiveness. Also, try something new on the menu. Chinatown and Little Italy offer all kinds of new goodies for the palate.
Walk with confidence,
but watch your step
It’s OK to be from out of town in a big city, and the whole city takes the fact that millions visit their city each year. Yet, that doesn’t afford them any more patience to deal with those who are unfamiliar with the way things are done. Be on your toes and move quickly when walking and when purchasing items. When in doubt on crossing the road, wait for the walk signal. Taxis do not like to slow down, and if you make them do so, the least you will be getting is angry honks and a shout out to all those around you that you ain’t from around here.
See all that you can see
New York City has something for everyone with one-of-a-kind nightlife, history, kid activities, shopping and food. For first-timers to the city, it will be overwhelming to choose what to see first. Resign yourself to the fact that you will not be able to see everything the city offers in one trip. For a five-day trip, pick out a list of about ten sights you want to see and plan for seeing two a day. That way, you will have time for these options and can fit in things you find as time permits.
A good way to start the trip is with a tour from Circle Line Cruises, which offers tours around the island of Manhattan and gets you up close to the Statue of Liberty while giving you an idea of your options of sights around the city. Chinatown and Little Italy are culturally educational and great for shopping and dining. St. Patrick’s Cathedral will blow you away with the architecture. You don’t want to miss Times Square at night, and the FAO Schwartz, Toys R Us, Hershey’s and Lego store provide amusement for all ages.
The history of this city and its pop culture richness allows you to identify with it from the start and take lasting memories home to share … as long as you wait for the walk signal.
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